NEW YORK - Michael N. Aufrichtig, Chairman of the New York Athletic
Club Fencing program for the past five years, has been named Head Men and
Women's Fencing Coach at Columbia, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director,
Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education announced today.

"Michael is
one of the most knowledgeable and well-connected figures in fencing, in New
York City and across the nation. He is a wonderful administrator and leader,
with experience at the highest level with one of the most notable fencing and
athletic organizations in the world," said Murphy. "Columbia is very proud of our tremendous heritage in collegiate
fencing. We are dedicated to building a top-rate fencing coaching staff that
will provide exceptional leadership, mentoring, and instruction to our fencing
student-athletes."

As the Director of the NYAC Fencing Program, Aufrichtig managed the
coaching staff, budgets, practice times, travel arrangements and recruiting of
the 55 athletes that compete with NYAC Fencing. He founded the NYAC Men's Epee High School Invitational in
2001, the strongest men's epee high school competition in the United States. He also served as the 2009 Women's Epee
coach at the World Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

During his five-year tenure with the NYAC, the NYAC Fencing program
had unprecedented success. At the
2011 National Championships, the NYAC won five national championships, three
silver medals and two bronze. In
2010, NYAC qualified seven members to the World Championships, more than any
other program.

"I'm honored to be the new head men and women's fencing coach at
Columbia University," said Aufrichtig.
"I look forward to continuing the rich success of Columbia Fencing and
expanding the Columbia Fencing community.
This is truly a dream come true."

Aufrichtig fenced at NYU, and graduated the Stern School of Business in
1994. He worked as a senior account executive at Advanced Solutions
International from 2007, while also serving as Chairman of the NYAC Fencing
program. From 2001-2006, he
worked for Kintera, Inc. in enterprise sales. Aufrichtig also worked for Blade
Fencing Equipment, Inc. from 1993-2000.